Lifeboat

Starring: Tallulah Bankhead, William Bendix, Walter Slezak, Mary Anderson, Hume Cronyn
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama, Thriller
1944

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: During World War II, a German U-boat sinks an Allied freighter, and the few remaining survivors converge upon a single lifeboat. As they drift seemingly endlessly at sea, the small band of survivors battle the elements, their growing differences, and their deepest fears.

Review:

Tim: Alfred Hitchcock has created some wonderful movies in his day. Of all the ones you are familiar with, Lifeboat is likely not one of them. However, it is a truly excellent movie. While not that well known, this is a cinematic gem that deserves having you track it down.

Similar to several other Hitchcock thrillers (Rope, for example), this whole movie takes place in one single location (here, a lifeboat). This generates a feeling of utter confiement, which adds to the suspense. We watch, entranced, as a small band of survivors set up their own little community as they await to be rescued. The survivors come from all walks of life, including Americans, Englishmen, and one German survivor of the U-boat that attacked our protagonists. Their differences become more evident and important as their will and nerves are tested. This group of people serve as a micrcosm of humanity as a whole- both its greatest attributes and it darkest desires.

A great deal of this film's suspense comes from the fact that there are multiple sources of fear- our survivors could be spotted by another U-boat, they could be killed by the elements, or they could kill each other. It is in this environment, surrounded by danger, do we find this band of survivors fighting to stay alive.

Lifeboat has a large cast, trapped in a small area, directed by the master of suspense, himself. Although this is not among Hitchcock's most famous films, it was still nominated for three Academy Awards, and it is every bit as good as you would hope.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Psycho, Rope, The Birds